August 27, 2020 American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress Launches Podcast 'America Works'

The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress is bringing the voices of workers throughout the country to listeners with "America Works," a new podcast series that celebrates the diversity and tenacity of the American workforce during a time of economic crisis and transition.

Each 10-minute episode of "America Works" introduces listeners to an individual worker whose first-person narrative adds to the wealth of our shared national experience. On Thursday, Sept. 3, the first four episodes will become available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and at loc.gov/podcasts. A new episode will be released weekly and featured on the Library's social media channels beginning Thursday, Sept. 10.

"'America Works' is a testament to the wisdom, wit, knowledge and dedication of today's working Americans," said Nancy Groce, host of "America Works" and senior folklife specialist at the American Folklife Center. "It is inspirational to hear these stories and realize how many committed and optimistic fellow citizens are out there working to improve their communities, support their families and build a better future for us all."

Each "America Works" episode is based on an interview from the American Folklife Center's ongoing Occupational Folklife Project, a multi-year initiative to document the culture of contemporary American workers during an era of economic and social transition. Over the past 10 years, American Folklife Center fieldworkers have compiled almost 1,000 interviews from across the country, documenting the experiences of more than 100 professions. More than 400 of these full-length interviews have been made available online.

Listen to a trailer for "America Works" and subscribe here: loc.gov/podcasts/america-works/

Given the serious economic challenges everyday Americans are faced with during the COVID-19 pandemic, the stories told in "America Works" are a timely reminder of the spirit of the American workforce. The insights of those featured will be added to the historical record of the nation's library.

The first season of "America Works" reflects the occupational and regional diversity that characterize the entirety of the Occupational Folklife Project's collection. Beginning Sept. 3, listeners can dive into the stories of individuals who provide some of the most essential services to our society. Some of the season's featured workers include Joyce Vegar of Coos County, Oregon, a home healthcare worker who explains the patience and compassion required to provide a certain level of care for another. Chicago ironworker Sharon Sisson shares an unforgettable tale of how she won the respect of a chauvinistic male co-worker who was harassing her on a job site. Jeff Hafler of Wonder Valley, California, describes what he loves about his work as a hairstylist and beauty shop owner, why customers confide in their stylists and the pride he takes in working in the service industry.

"Having a vocation," Hafler said, "is often a better guarantee of employment than a college degree."

About the American Folklife Center
The American Folklife Center was created by Congress in 1976 and placed at the Library of Congress to "preserve and present American folklife" through programs of research, documentation, archival presentation, reference service, live performance, exhibition, public programs and training. The Center includes the Archive of Folk Culture, which was established in 1928 and is now one of the largest collections of ethnographic material from the United States and around the world.

About the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.